Mounting structure

Abstract

A mounting structure for mounting a support for a seat belt to a vehicle, arranged so that when mounted to a vehicle it will move relative to the vehicle in a first range of directions under application of a first force urging the mounting structure in one of the range of directions, but will not move relative to the vehicle in a direction outside the first range of directions when a second, greater, force is applied urging the mounting structure in such a direction. The structure may have a bracket ( 7 ) secured to a vehicle by bolts ( 18 ) passing through slots ( 15 ) in the bracket, allowing the bracket to move generally in the direction of the slots, but not otherwise. De-couplers, in which toothed flanges ( 20 ) on collars ( 19 ) through which the bolts extend bear against raised pads on u-shaped washer structures ( 23 ) may be disposed between the bolt heads and the bracket to limit the force applied to the bracket and enable the applied force at which the bracket will move relative to the vehicle to be controlled.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A mounting structure for mounting a support for a seat belt to a vehicle, the mounting structure being arranged so that when mounted to the vehicle the mounting structure will move relative to the vehicle in a first range of directions under application of a first force urging the mounting structure in one of the range of directions, but will not move relative to the vehicle in a direction outside the first range of directions when a second, greater, force is applied urging the mounting structure in such a direction, the mounting structure comprising a first bracket with an elongate slot extending therethrough, a decoupler assembly and a fastener extending through the decoupler assembly and the elongate slot, the fastener and decoupler assembly intended, in use, to fasten the first bracket to the vehicle but permit relative sliding movement between the first bracket and the vehicle when the first force of a predetermined magnitude is applied, wherein the decoupler assembly comprises a collar having a flange extending therefrom at one end, with teeth formed on a surface of the flange. 
     
     
       2. The mounting structure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fastener is sized to be able to move along the length of the slot. 
     
     
       3. The mounting structure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fastener is a bolt, stud or pin. 
     
     
       4. The mounting structure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fastener also extends through a washer positioned adjacent to the flange of the collar so that when the fastener is used to fasten the first bracket to the vehicle the flange of the collar is urged into contact with the washer. 
     
     
       5. The mounting structure as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the washer comprises two substantially parallel sidewalls arranged to capture the flange of the collar in order to retain the collar relative to the washer. 
     
     
       6. The mounting structure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a second bracket is provided, the second bracket being arranged to be mounted to the vehicle so that it is fixed relative to the vehicle, and a stop arranged to limit relative movement between the first bracket and the second bracket in one or more directions. 
     
     
       7. The mounting structure as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the support for the seat belt is mounted to the first bracket and the stop of the second bracket is arranged to limit movement of the support for the seat belt. 
     
     
       8. The mounting structure as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the support for the seat belt is a loop. 
     
     
       9. The mounting structure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a seat belt presenter mechanism is mounted to the bracket. 
     
     
       10. The mounting structure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein more than one slot is formed in the bracket, and a respective decoupler assembly and fastener is associated with each elongate slot. 
     
     
       11. A mounting structure for mounting a support for a seat belt to a vehicle, the mounting structure being arranged so that when mounted to the vehicle the mounting structure will move relative to the vehicle in a first range of directions under application of a first force urging the mounting structure in one of the range of directions, but will not move relative to the vehicle in a direction outside the first range of directions when a second, greater, force is applied urging the mounting structure in such a direction, the mounting structure comprising a first bracket with an elongate slot extending therethrough, a decoupler assembly and a fastener extending through the decoupler assembly and the elongate slot, the fastener and decoupler assembly intended, in use, to fasten the first bracket to the vehicle but permit relative sliding movement between the first bracket and the vehicle when the first force of a predetermined magnitude is applied, wherein the decoupler assembly comprises a collar having a flange extending therefrom at one end, the fastener also extends through a washer positioned adjacent to the flange of the collar so that when the fastener is used to fasten the first bracket to the vehicle the flange of the collar is urged into contact with the washer, and wherein the washer defines an open ended slot. 
     
     
       12. A vehicle comprising a mounting structure for mounting a support for a seat belt to the vehicle, the mounting structure being mounted to the vehicle so that the mounting structure will move relative to the vehicle in a first range of directions under application of a first force urging the mounting structure in one of the range of directions, but will not move relative to the vehicle in a direction outside the first range of directions when a second, greater, force is applied urging the mounting structure in such a direction, the mounting structure comprising a bracket with an elongate slot extending therethrough, a decoupler assembly and a fastener extending through the decoupler assembly and the elongate slot, the fastener and decoupler assembly fastening the bracket to the vehicle but permitting relative sliding movement between the bracket and the vehicle when the first force of a predetermined magnitude is applied wherein the decoupler assembly comprises a collar having a flange extending therefrom at one end, with teeth formed on a surface of the flange. 
     
     
       13. The vehicle as claimed in  claim 12 , the vehicle being a motor car and the mounting structure being mounted to a rear quarter panel of the motor car in order to support an upper mounting point of the seat belt, wherein the seat belt is a three point seat belt for a front seat occupant of the motor car.